Awards galore at NI Simmental Club Dinner

Strong numbers of breeders from the club as well as sponsors gathered to celebrate the success from the 2025 show and sale season.

Shane McDonald, Club Chairman, addressed the crowd summarising a busy calendar of local shows, sales and club events throughout his first year in the role.

The Danske Bank Silver Saver for the best pedigree animal and the S.H. Watterson Perpetual Cup for the highest priced bull was awarded to Cecil McIlwaine from Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone with Corrick Presley at the British Simmental Cattle Society Sale held at Dungannon Farmers Mart on Friday, 21st March. Notably, this was a record-breaking day for Cecil, Scott and Neil McIlwaine who achieved a new breed record for a Simmental bull with a price of 7,200 gns.

From the Club’s Spring Sale held at Swatragh Livestock Market on Friday, 2nd May, the Bruces Hill Cattle Company trophy was awarded to Andrew Clarke for Breaghey Rolex, Male and Overall Champion on the evening.

Eamon McCloskey was presented with the Ulster Farmers Mart R.J Allen Cup for best opposite sex winner at the club’s Autumn Sale held at Swatragh Livestock Market on Friday, 24th October with Drumagarner Riomach.

To add to the success seen in the sale ring, the club was proud to recognise the excellent quality of Simmentals on display at local shows this year.

Several awards were presented to Joe Wilson and family, Co Down, throughout the evening for Ballinalare Farm Nikita, a first calving heifer with twins at foot who outstandingly, achieved the “double-hat trick” after winning Overall Champion at the RUAS Balmoral Show and the NI Simmental National show for three years in a row. They were awarded the Crystal Glasses, Bobbie Dickson Perpetual Championship Trophy, Silver Award for the best exhibit bred in NI, Perpetual Cow Bell, Bangor and Six Road Ends Farmers Union Perpetual Trophy for the Champion Simmental Female, Danske Bank Female of the Year Crystal Bowl and Cow Bell, Reserve Female of the Year Crystal Bowl and the Guinness Cup for Overall Champion, presented by Ruth Montgomery secretary of Clogher Valley Show.

Other awards included the Bobbie Gamble Perpetual Challenge Trophy which was presented to Jonny Hazelton and family, Co Tyrone for the best Simmental Female born on or after 1st January 2023 to 30 th June 2024 with Ranfurly Weikel 56 th as well as the News Letter Shield for the Best Junior Heifer after 1st January also for Ranfurly Weikel 56th.

Matthew Cunning collected both the Animal Health Trophy for Best Simmental Pair on behalf of Leslie and Christopher Weatherup, Co Antrim for Dermody Royal Lucy and Lisglass Rose and the William Black Memorial Perpetual Cup for the Best Simmental Male for Lisglass Real Deal presented by British Simmental Society NI council member, Richard Rodgers.

The Danske Bank Male of the Year and Cow Bell was won by Kyle Hayes, Co Antrim for Haystar Romeo, presented by British Simmental Society NI council member, Richard Rodgers.

Nigel Glasgow, Co Tyrone, was presented with the Danske Bank Reserve Male of the Year Crystal Bowl winner for Bridgewater Farm Rocky and the Irwin’s Feed Perpetual Cup for Best Junior Bull, also for Bridgewater Rocky, presented by Ruth Montgomery, secretary of Clogher Valley Show.

The Valley Hotel Perpetual Cup was presented to Paul McDonald for the Best Heifer Calf born in the year of the show.

A number of individual awards were also presented on the night. From the NI stockjudging competition hosted by the Moore Family, Beragh, Jonny Hazelton, Open Class winner was recognised by Shane McDonald, Club Chairman and Rhys Rodgers received the Carnkern Cup. Cara Moore was also recognised as Club Member of the Year, collecting the Betty Walker Memorial Perpetual Challenge Cup.

The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders Club would once again like to thank all club members, club member Val Fegan for taking photographs during the year along with William McElroy and David Porter. The British Simmental Cattle Society and supporters to the club and all the sponsors throughout the year for the shows and sales. A special thanks also to both Dungannon Farmers Market and Swatragh Livestock Market for hosting the sales throughout the year and lastly to all the farmers in NI, ROI and the UK for putting their trust and confidence in NI Simmental Cattle.

The last event on the calendar this year is the NI Simmental calf show taking place at Ballymena Livestock Market on Saturday, 22nd November with a cracking entry of 50 calves.